Psychology

Applications Open - 10th November 2025

Applications Close - 31st January 2026

Entry Requirements - For entry into year 12 to begin A Level and/or vocational courses, students must meet the minimum requirements in English and Mathematics (grade 4), however most courses require significantly higher grades in certain other GCSE subjects to access them.

How to Apply -

• Internal students – apply via Applicaa (school have emailed all students a link)
• External Students – apply using Applicaa from the Trinity School website under Sixth Form - Apply here

Students are required to study a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 subjects.

Why study the subject
If you study psychology you'll be able to hone your analytical and organisational skills and learn about scientific research methods, including collecting and working with data. Learning about human behaviour can also help to build your communication skills and improve your teamwork and leadership skills.

Skills Acquired
The 6 keys skills you will acquire are Communication, Numeracy, Research, Ethical understanding, Patience and Problem-Solving

Students suited to the course
You don't need any prior knowledge of Psychology in order to start the A level course, but you do need a solid complement of GCSEs: with mostly 4 grades at GCSE you may well find Psychology very demanding, especially the Research Methods component of the course.

The requirement to write essays, in which you present argument for and against an issue, means that you should also have a good grasp of the English language. As Psychology is a science, a GCSE in Science (especially Biology) would be advisable, and you do need to be comfortable with numbers.

Most important, though, is that you have a genuine curiosity about the way humans think and behave.

What other subjects it combines well with

Psychology is a broad subject and can be combined with many subjects. The subject is well suited to students who are both predominantly arts and humanities focused and/ or science focused; therefore the subject is often taken with subjects so as History, Geography, RS, Art, Government & Politics, Sociology, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.

Course Structure

Year 12
An Introduction to Psychology: Social influence, Memory, Attachment and Psychopathology. Looking at Psychology in context; different approaches in Psychology, Biopsychology and research methods.

Year 13
Issues and Options in Psychology; Issues and Debates in Psychology, Relationships, Schizophrenia, Forensic Psychology.

Unit content

Year 12
Social influence
Memory
Attachment
Psychopathology
Different approaches in Psychology
Biopsychology
Research methods.

Year 13
Issues and Debates in Psychology
Relationships
Schizophrenia
Forensic Psychology

Assessment

A Level Psychology is a linear subject, assessed at the end of two years of study. The AQA examination board uses three examinations to assess you. Each of these exams comprises a number of short questions, essay questions and scenarios to which you are required to apply your knowledge.

Paper 1: Introductory Topics in Psychology (Social Influence, Memory, Attachment, and Psychopathology).

Paper 2: Psychology in Context (Approaches in Psychology, Research Methods and Biopsychology).

Paper 3: Issues and Options in Psychology (Section A is a compulsory section on Issues and Debates in Psychology. Sections B, C, D each contain questions on the in-depth option topics you've studied.

GCSE grade 5 in English, GCSE grade 5 in Biology (Single Science) or grade 5-5 om the Biology component of Combined Science and GCSE grade 5 in Maths.

Other than a degree in Psychology the A level develops many transferable skills which lend themselves to a variety of degree courses. Those who choose to continue studying the subject to degree level often enter professional fields such as Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Social worker, Counselor, Educational psychologist, human resource manager, teacher, business leader and any role which requires research.